Game apparatus.



J. R. MRRCRR. GAMR APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 10, 1907.

PATENTED AUG. ll, 1908.

UNITED STATEs PATENT oEEicE.

JOHN B. MERCER, OF WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

GAME APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, JOHN B. MERCER, a

.5 citizen of the United States, residing at Vilmington, in the county of New Hanover and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved game apparatus for use in playing a novel game which I callThe American game of business, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of a game apparatus constructed in accordancel with my invention, With the pieces shown on the game board. Fig. 2 is an edge elevation ofthe game board.

The game board 1, which may be of any suitable size and shape and may be made of any suitable material, is provided with a checkered portion 2 at a suitable distance from its sides, which checkered portion is similar to the checkered field of a checker or chess board, and is provided at its sides with checkered extensions 3. At corresponding sides of the board are aps 4, which have hinged or exible connections with such sides of the board, as at 5, to enable such flaps to be extended, as shown in Fig. l to uncover the checkered extensions 8 orto be folded, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to cover such checkered extensions. Hence the effective area of the board may be varied in accordance with the number of pieces employed in playing the game. The said board is marked or divided into quarters by cross bars 6, 27, which are marked thereon and which intersect the checkered field of the board.

The flaps 4 are slightly shorter than the game board so that the ends of the board project slightly beyond the ends of the flaps and the board is provided at its ends with upwardly extending iianges 30, the de th of which is equal to the thickness of the flaps so that when the latter are folded on the board with the flanges to retain the game pieces on the board, and a suitable cover may be then placed on the board on the upper sides of the folded flaps; the iianges 30, and the game pieces, to retain the flaps in folded condition Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed october 1o, i907.

i1, i2, is, i4, i5, ic, and, 17.

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Serial No. 396,739.

and also retain the game pieces on the board, thereby forming `a compact disposition of the game ap aratus including the game pieces, and renc ering it unnecessary to employ an additional receptacle for the reception of the game pieces when the latter are not in use.

The pieces are shown in Fig. 1 as disposed in initial osition on the checkered portion of the boarcfat opposite sides thereof for the respective players. The pieces for the respective players are differently colored or other wise distinguished. Each set of )ieces includes a number of inferior, or worker pieces 7, referably designated by the letter W an a series of superior pieces 8, 9, 10, The pieces 8 for the respective players I designate as Government, are the most important pieces, and each occupy the space next to the center bar 27 of the board at the left of the player, and may be moved by the players in order in any direction, straight oi' diagonal, backward or forward, but only one space at a time when the way is clear and not becoming exposed. These pieces can take any other piece by removing the same and government taking its place. The player Who brings any-piece to bear upon government of his opponent must notify his'opponent by saying Corner The game ends when the government of one of the players is so cornered that it cannot be moved or any piece brought to its relief. Each piece marked ,Capital and indicated at 9 is the next most important piece and occupies the space to the right of' government, just across the perpendicular line 27. Such pieces 9 as are marked Capital may be moved in any direction and any number of spaces when the way is open and can take in any direction.

lieces 10 marked Agriculture land 11 marked Manufaclure are disposed initially on the ouer sides of the pieces, 8, 9, respecively, may move diagonally only and can operate only on their respeciive sides of the perpendicular center line or bar 7 until they pass Lhe horizonal line or bar 6, when they are qualified to op craie any where upon the board, can move any number of spaces and have power to take any of the opponents pieces. In playing the game as soon as such pieces 10, 11 become thus qualified they should be turned over to indicate that they have such power.

The pieces marked 12, 13, respectively Labor and Transportation are initially disposed respecfively on lhe ouer sides of ihe pieces 10, 11 and have 'lhe same powers as the pieces 10, 11. Such pieces may jump over other pieces, may move one space diagonally and iwo spaces s'raighf or ihe reverse, may cross ihe cen'er horizon'i al line 6 in ihe second move ihus qualifying 'l hemselves to have lhe freedom of J.he board, and may lake as oiher pieces.

The pieces llfl which are respecively called Merchanz, and Banking are inilially placed on Jdie ou" er sides of i'he pieces 12, 13, respecively. At firs@ said pieces 141-16 may be moved s raigh'?,` ahead, 1 ransversely, or backward, but can not be moved across ihe line 27. Afl er crossing the line 6, however, ihey may operai e any where upon 1 he board, and may "ake by jumping o her pleces. Af.` er '-hey have been moved past ihe said cener line 6 l(hey should be rurned over i' o indica e i hai.y lhey have such powers. The worker pieces 7 of ihe respec ive players are eighl'y in number and occupy he row in fron'f` of `he pieces 8 1o 16, inclusive, Such worker pieces may move sraighfl ahead, one space at a aime, can lake diagonally, and afi` er having crossed the horizontal cen er line 6 become qualified as skilled or special workers and can then move backward and 1 ake diagonally backward. lf one of hese should reach opponenf.s back line The player 'l hereof will call for any capiured piece of his own he may choose o lake ils place. Such worker pieces afier having crossed the line 6 should be urned over fo indicate lhat lhey have acquired such superior lowers.

ln playing the game, in faking a piece of opponen, the player may fake up opponents piece and move his piece fo vtrake v(he place of the capured piece. lf a player removes his hand from Jhe piece afi er moving fhe same, such piece cannot be faken back. Anyplayer may or may notl lake opponen'ns exposed piece at his opfion, excepling as 'lo governmentJ piece,

Vhen playing The long game as I ferm it, each player is provided with 'Lwo addilional pieces 17, which are respecfively called Government commission and Cor oralions, and are respecively iniaially p aced on he spaces nexfJ ro the pieces 14, '16, the flaps l being exrended so as io expose or uncover The checkered ex ensions 3. These pieces may move siraigh, eiiher backward or forward, may take diagonally only as others and have fhe freedom of lhe board `when fhe way is clear. In playingI such long game each player' is provided wih two exi. ra pieces indica'` ed al1 18, which have ihe same pov ers and are subjecs'y o fhe same res'rici'ions as the other worker pieces.

The objectJ of lhe game is to corner lihe government of the opponen'', and fhe player who succeeds in cornering this piece so lha? if; cannot be cleared wins he game.

To facilita/.e lhe playing of lhe game he board'is preferably inscribed ai' i* s sides wih the names of lrhe superior pieces in T'he spaces opposiie Those .lo be occupied by ihe respecive superior pieces.

Having fhus described the invenion, what is claimed as new, is

1. A game board having hinged flaps adapted 13o be folded or extendedtherefrom to vvary the effeci ive area of such board.

2. A game board having flaps adap? ed fo be folded or extended fherefrom, and fianges which coacf. Wih such flaps to retain pieces on he board when such flaps are in folded condiion.

3. A game board having fiaps at opposite sides thereof, hinged thereto and thereby adapted to be folded thereon or exi ended 'herefrom, said game board being provided af ifs ends Wifh upsfanding flanges to coacf wi'l h such flaps when ihe lati er are in folded condiion fo reain game pieces on such board.

In testimony whereof l aflix my signature in presence of two wilnesses.

JOHN B. MERCER.

Witnesses:

D. B. FESLER, H. B. MERCER. 

